Wear liner assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides a wear liner assembly ( 13 ) adapted to be secured to a structure ( 15 ). The wear liner assembly comprises a wear liner ( 14 ) having a first material secured to a backing plate ( 17 ). The backing plate has at least one hole ( 43 ) therethrough. A first fastener portion is adapted to co-operate with a second fastener portion to securing the wear liner to the structure. The first fastener portion is received in the at least one hole and is at least partially housed within the wear liner.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A wear liner assembly for securing to a structure, the wear liner assembly comprising:
 a wear liner comprising a first material secured to a backing plate, the backing plate having at least one hole therethrough; 
 a first fastener portion and a second fastener portion rotatably secured to the first fastener portion, the first fastener portion co-operates with the second fastener portion for securing the wear liner to the structure, 
 wherein the first fastener portion has a portion of a first end encapsulated and retained within the wear liner such that the first fastener portion cannot be removed from the wear liner, and a portion of a second end extending through the at least one hole. 
 
     
     
       2. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the portion of the first end of the first fastener portion is received in the backing plate so as to be housed within the wear liner. 
     
     
       3. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the at least one hole of the backing plate incorporates a recess, wherein the recess supports the portion of the first end of the first fastener portion. 
     
     
       4. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the first material is a first wear layer, the first wear layer providing an outer wear surface which is exposed to abrasive material passing through the structure. 
     
     
       5. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the first wear layer comprises multiple layers of the same or different materials. 
     
     
       6. A wear liner assembly to be secured to a structure, the wear liner assembly comprising:
 a wear liner comprising a first material layer secured relative to a backing plate, the backing plate having at least one hole therethrough; 
 at least one fastener assembly comprising a first fastener portion and a second fastener portion, the first fastener portion co-operates with the second fastener portion for securing the wear liner to the structure, 
 wherein the first fastener portion is received in the at least one hole such that a portion of a first end of the first fastener portion is encapsulated and retained within the wear liner such that the first fastener portion cannot be removed from the wear liner. 
 
     
     
       7. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the first material layer includes at least one aperture therethrough, the at least one aperture in the first wear layer being axially aligned with the at least one hole in the backing plate, the at least one aperture being smaller in diameter than a largest diameter of the first fastener portion. 
     
     
       8. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the first material layer is a first wear layer, the first wear layer comprises one or more first wear units/tiles secured relative to the backing plate. 
     
     
       9. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 8  wherein the wear liner comprises one or more further wear layers between the backing plate and the first wear layer. 
     
     
       10. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 8  wherein the first wear layer is made from ceramic or a ceramic based material. 
     
     
       11. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 8  wherein a first surface of the first wear layer is secured to a first surface of the backing plate the first surface of the first wear layer is bonded to the first surface of the backing plate using a bonding material. 
     
     
       12. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the first surface of the first wear layer is planar and is substantially continuous between its edges. 
     
     
       13. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the first wear layer has at least one aperture therethrough, whereupon installation the at least one aperture aligns with the first fastening portion. 
     
     
       14. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 11  wherein an axial movement of the first fastener portion is limited by the first surface of the first wear layer or the bonding material. 
     
     
       15. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 8  wherein the portion of the first end of the first fastener portion is positioned within the thickness of the backing plate. 
     
     
       16. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the first fastener portion comprises a bolt having a bolt head and a shank wherein the bolt head provides the portion of the first end of the first fastener portion, and the shank provides a portion of a second end of the first fastener portion, the bolt head being retained within the wear liner and the shank extends from the bolt head through the at least one hole in the backing plate, through the backing plate to extend rearwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       17. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 16  wherein the portion of the first end of the first fastener portion is freely rotatable while retained within the wear liner, an underside of the bolt head being flush with or inward of a first surface of the wear liner. 
     
     
       18. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 16  wherein the bolt head has a tool recess which during installation and removal of the wear liner assembly co-operates with a tool for rotating the bolt, whereby at least one aperture of the first wear layer aligns with the tool recess of the bolt head, wherein a diameter of the aperture in the first wear layer is smaller than a diameter of the bolt head and larger than a diameter of a portion of the tool which enters the aperture. 
     
     
       19. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 18  wherein the at least one aperture in the first wear layer is configured to be sealed once the wear liner is secured to the structure. 
     
     
       20. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 19  wherein the at least one aperture in the first wear layer is sealed by a plug suitably secured therein such as by bonding, friction or material welding. 
     
     
       21. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 16  wherein the portion of the first end of the first fastener portion is rotatably fixed when retained within the wear liner. 
     
     
       22. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 21  wherein the bolt is keyed relative to the insert in the backing plate to prevent rotation of the bolt once the bolt head is received in the insert, the axial movement of the bolt in the wear liner being less than the axial movement required to disengage the bolt from the insert in a manner whereby the bolt is no longer keyed relative to the insert. 
     
     
       23. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the fastener assembly further comprises an insert which is received in the backing plate. 
     
     
       24. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 23  wherein the insert is threadingly received in the at least one hole, the at least one hole is in the form of a threaded aperture. 
     
     
       25. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the portion of the first end of the first fastener portion is freely rotatable while retained within the wear liner. 
     
     
       26. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the portion of the first end of the first fastener portion is in the form of a nut, wherein the nut is retained within the wear liner and positioned such that a threaded hole of the nut aligns with the at least one hole of the backing plate. 
     
     
       27. A wear liner assembly to be secured to a structure, the structure having a plurality of openings for securing the wear liner assembly thereto, the wear liner assembly comprising:
 a wear liner comprising a first wear layer secured to a backing plate; 
 at least one fastener assembly for securing the wear liner to the structure, the at least one fastener assembly comprising: 
 a first fastener portion in the form of a bolt head, encapsulated and retained within the wear liner such that the bolt head cannot be removed from the wear liner, whereby the bolt head is rotatable therein; 
 a shank, having a threaded portion, the shank protruding from the bolt head, extending through the backing plate to extend rearwardly of the backing plate; and 
 a second fastener portion in the form of a nut comprising a locking element which is rotatably positioned on the shank, 
 whereupon installation on the structure a restraining portion of the locking element remains within one of the openings in the structure such that during rotation of the at least one fastener assembly the locking element is able to rotate between a first position to a second position where upon further rotation of the at least one fastener assembly the wear liner and structure are clamped between the bolt head and the locking element of the nut. 
 
     
     
       28. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 27  wherein the fastener assembly further comprises an insert which is received in the backing plate, wherein the bolt head is received in the insert such that an upper surface of the bolt head sits below a top of the insert, the insert being secured to a hole in the backing plate. 
     
     
       29. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 27  further comprising a prevention means to prevent the second fastener portion from passing completely through the opening in the structure when received therein, the prevention means is selected from a restriction element or a collar. 
     
     
       30. A wear liner assembly for securing to a structure, the wear liner assembly comprising:
 a wear liner comprising a first material secured to a backing plate, the backing plate having at least one hole therethrough; 
 a first fastener portion in the form of a bolt wherein the first fastener portion is received in the at least one hole, a bolt head of the bolt is housed within the wear liner to be retained therein, such that the bolt is not removable therefrom. 
 
     
     
       31. A wear liner assembly for securing to a structure, the wear liner assembly comprising:
 a wear liner comprising a first material secured to a backing plate, the backing plate having at least one hole therethrough; and 
 a first fastener portion in the form of a bolt, and a second fastener portion in the form of a nut providing a locking element rotatably secured to a shaft of the bolt, the bolt co-operates with the nut for securing the wear liner to the structure, 
 wherein a bolt head of the bolt is encapsulated and retained within the wear liner such that the bolt cannot be removed from the wear liner, and wherein a portion of the nut extends through the at least one hole. 
 
     
     
       32. A wear liner assembly for securing to a structure, the wear liner assembly comprising:
 a wear liner comprising a first material secured to a backing plate, the backing plate having at least one hole therethrough; and 
 a first fastener portion in the form of a bolt which co-operates with a second fastener portion for securing the wear liner to the structure, 
 wherein the bolt has a bolt head encapsulated and retained within the wear liner such that the bolt cannot be removed from the wear liner. 
 
     
     
       33. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 32  wherein the first fastener portion comprises a bolt having a bolt head and a shank wherein the bolt head provides the first end of the first fastener portion, and the shank provides a second end of the first fastener portion, the bolt head being retained within the wear liner and the shank extends from the bolt head through the at least one hole in the backing plate, through the backing plate to extend rearwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       34. The wear liner assembly according to  claim 32  wherein the first end of the first fastener portion is in the form of a nut, wherein the nut is retained within the wear liner and positioned such that a threaded hole of the nut aligns with the at least one hole of the backing plate.